Pa. judge, her 2 sisters convicted of corruption

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice, a court aide, and a former state senator — all three sisters — have all now been convicted of public corruption charges, accusing them of using state employees for political campaign work.

Justice Joan Orie Melvin and older sister Janine Orie were convicted Thursday of theft-of-service charges and other crimes. Former Sen. Jane Orie, the youngest of the three, was convicted last year and is serving 2½ to 10 years in prison.

The staunchly Republican, Catholic sisters from a Pittsburgh suburb say the charges were overblown or outright lies whipped up by a Democratic prosecutor.

A sentencing date for Melvin and Janine Orie has not yet been set. A lawyer for Orie said he didn't like the verdict and planned to appeal.